there is a lot to talk about after president obama's first white house news conference in eight months. it covered everything from the budget crisis to libya, to the david petraeus scandal. >> the president himself said that so much has happened lately people forget the election of just a week ago. nancy cordes covered the news conference. she's at the white house. nancy, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the president came to the east room of the white house hoping to push his message on the fiscal cliff and he did but he also got pressed with a number of questions about his handling of foreign policy and national security and one question in particular got a rise out of him about his u.n. ambassador, susan rice. in his first full press conference since march president obama was asked about the criticism of u.n. ambassador susan rice. his likely choice to replace hillary clinton as secretary of state. >> besmerch her reputation is outrageous. >> reporter: rice has come under fire for stating that the september attack on an american consulate in libya appeared to be the result o